Psychological Stress and Acute Myocardial Infarction among Cardiac Patients at Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College Hospital, Sirajganj

Abstract

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Psychological stress has been increasingly recognized as an important factor among cardiac patients, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Understanding the distribution of stress levels alongside clinical characteristics of AMI patients is essential for comprehensive cardiac care. Objective(s): To describe the sociodemographic characteristics, psychological stress levels, risk factors, severity, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction among cardiac patients admitted to Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College Hospital, Sirajganj. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 cardiac patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction at Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College Hospital, Sirajganj. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic variables, psychological stress levels, and established risk factors of AMI. Clinical information regarding AMI severity and patient outcomes was obtained from medical records. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and figures. Results: The age of the participants ranged from 35 to 73 years, with a mean age of 50.95 ± 10.43 years. The largest proportion belonged to the 35–45-year age group (37.3%). Males constituted 72.0% of the study population, and 85.3% were married. Regarding education, 38.0% had secondary-level education, while 20.7% had no formal education. Salaried employment was the most common occupation (32.7%). In terms of psychological stress, 61.3% of the patients experienced moderate stress, while 25.6% had high stress levels. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor (61.3%), followed by smoking (53.3%) and diabetes mellitus (52.0%). Moderate AMI severity was observed in 58.7% of patients, whereas 26.7% had severe AMI. Regarding outcomes, 73.3% of patients showed clinical improvement, while mortality was recorded in 26.7% of cases. Conclusion: The study findings reveal that the majority of AMI patients were middle-aged males with moderate psychological stress and multiple conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Moderate severity of AMI and favorable clinical outcomes were observed in most patients. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive assessment, including psychological stress, in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

KYANCJ 2026; 07 (01): 1-5